Already the day after Israel's attacks on targets in Iran, the Migration Agency issued a special event to be able to organize itself. It continued until last Thursday, after the authority intensively helped Iranians over the past two weeks.
Iranians began contacting us about their visas and residence permits that had expired, says Sara Åhman.
Since the attack, the western, northern and southern parts of Iran's airspace have been closed. In addition, Tehran's international airport is closed, which means that Iranians in Sweden need to find a solution to be able to stay.
This can concern Iranians who are in Sweden as tourists, on a visit to visit family or who are here to study or work.
Throughout last year, the authority decided and granted 31 cases of extended visas for Iranian citizens – and in the past two weeks, 28 cases have been handled. In addition, 157 cases of extended residence permits for visits were decided last year, a figure that can be compared to the 30 that have come in since a few weeks ago.
It's not a huge number of cases, but they are figures that would not have been relevant if the situation in the world looked different, notes Sara Åhman.
The airspace above Iran was closed on June 14 and is expected to cease over the weekend, something that has not yet happened.
Lina Conrad/TT
Facts: Different possibilities for Iranians
TT
Schengen visa: For example, as a tourist or other visitor, it is possible to apply for a visa to stay in Sweden for up to 90 days. It is also possible to apply for an extension of this, as long as the person has not already been in Sweden for more than 90 days.
Residence permit for visits: When it comes to people who, for example, have worked, visited or studied in Sweden for more than 90 days, these can apply for a residence permit for visits.
Another possibility to get permission to stay is to apply for asylum.
Source: Migration Agency
